Dome top carrier carton



June 15, 1954 GUYE'R 2,681,143

DOME TOP CARRIER CARTON Filed Feb. 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I] 2 eynalds Guyer' BY 31m :9 Y TTORNEY Patented June 15, 1954 DOME TOP CARRIER CARTON Reynolds Guyer, St. Paul, Minn, assignor t0 Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application February 17, 1950, Serial No. 144,755

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in dome top carrier package wherein it is desired to provide a package for containing goods which may be easily and conveniently carried.

Paper board cartons for containing canned goods or other similar articles, equipped with handles for ease in carrying have become increasingly popular. These packages usually contain a plurality of articles and insure the purchase of a plurality of articles rather than merely one or two. For example, packages have recently be come popular for carrying six cans of beer. The packages remain closed until the purchaser has reached his destination, and in order to insure ease in carrying a handle of some type is usually desired. As the cans must fit snugly in the carton to insure proper protection in handling it has usually been thought impractical to employ a handle hole through which the fingers extend in grasping the carton, as this arrangement ordinarily does not provide sufiicient space within the carton to conveniently accommodate the fingers.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a carton having curved fold lines near opposite sides of the upper end thereof so that when the package is lifted by this upper end the end bows upwardly away from the contents. By providing these additional score lines and a1- lowing the top of the carton to bulge upwardly b when lifted, additional room is provided at the top of the package for accommodating the fingers. I

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that my carton provides an unusual amount of space within the carton between the center of the top carton panel and the contents of the package without providing waste space for movement of the contents. The carton may be constructed of the size ordinarily required to snugly accommodate the carton contents. At the same time, by providing curved fold lines connecting opposite sides of the top panel to the corresponding side wall panels, the end of the carton will flex upwardly near its center point so as to provide additional space within the carton-for the finger.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a package for a plurality of cans arranged with their axes parallel to the top and bottom panels of the carton and in providing curved fold lines on either side of the usual score line extending parallel to the axes of the cans. As a result the carton stock may bend inwardly against the surfaces of the top cans oflthe. series,

thus permitting the center portion of the top panel to be raised above the level of the cans. A hand hole is provided in the top panel between the two cans so that a maximum amount of room is provided for the fingers. 7

An added feature of the present invention resides in producing a carton having a top panel formed with a hand hole therein and having-a glue flap secured to the top panel in sucha manner as to provide a reinforcement for the hand hole. In this way the top panel is; reinforced sufficiently to permit the package to---be carried without danger of tearing the cartonwalls. q

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully-set.

forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification: 7

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the closedcarton showing the manner in which the carton top panel bows upwardly when a pull is exerted thereupon.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container. a. 7

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the manner in which the top panel is distorte by an upward pull thereupon.

The carton A includes a side wall panel II], a bottom panel I! and a side wall panel l2 connected together along parallel fold lines I3 and M. The upper edge of the side wall panel) is connected along a fold line 15 to a top panel l6.

packed The opposite side wall panel I2 is connected along a fold line I! to atop panel 19. Adhesive is applied as indicated at 29 to the top panel I9 so as to secure this top panel in overlapped re-. lation to the top panel I 6. The top panel [9 may be of sufficient width to extend substantially across the top panel It or may be relatively shorter as indicated in Figure 1.

Closing flaps 2| and 22 are foldably connected to the bottom panel 'll along parallel fold lines 23 and 24. Closure flaps 25 and 26 are foldably connected to the side wall panel Ill along continuations of the fold lines 23 and 24. Closing flaps 21 and 29 are foldably connected to the side wall panel l2 along continuations of the fold lines 23 and 24. The top panel 16 is provided with closing flaps 3G and 3| also connected along extensions of the fold lines 23 and 24. 'I'het'oppanel is is similarly provided with closing flaps" 32 and.33. 314;;

A pair of curved fold lines 34 and 35 extend from the juncture of the fold line l with the fold line 23 to the juncture between the fold lines and 24. These curved fold lines 34 and 35 are preferably arcuate in form and bow outwardly from the fold line l5 so as to be at greatest distance therefrom at their center points. A similar pair of bowed fold lines 33 and 31 are provided on opposite sides of the fold line [1. These fold lines 36 and 3'3 extend from the juncture of the fold lines I] and 23 to the juncture between the fold lines I1 and 24. Thus these fold lines 36 and 3'! are at greatest distance from the fold line I! intermediate their ends. The hand hole is provided in the top panel H5, this hole being preferably formed by a flap 39 having arcuate ends 40 and 4! and a straight connecting side 42. The arcuate ends 40 and II are connected along a fold line 43 parallel to the straight side 42 of the flap 39. The flap 3!) may be folded downwardly into the carton A and folded back to underlie the portion of the panel l6, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the top panel 23 preferably overlaps the panel Iii to a point adjacent to the fold line 43 so that as the flap 39 is folded downwardly it may be folded beneath the marginal edge of the top panel 49. However, if preferred the top panel l9 may be extended throughout a greater area of the panel l6 and be provided with a hand hold therein which coincides with the hole formed by inward folding of the flap 33.

The carton A is formed by folding the blank along two of its parallel fold lines so that the top panels I 6 and I9 overlap and are secured together by the adhesive 20. The carton is ordinarily furnished the customer in this form. When it is desired to pack the carton the connected closure flaps 3| and 33 are folded into substantially coplanar relation with the opposite flap 22 and the flaps 26 and 29 are then folded to overlie the short inner flaps. Adhesive is provided between the flaps for sealing the same together.

During the filling operation the flaps first sealed in the manner described are arranged to form the bottom of the carton so that the cans B may be inserted by gravity thereinto. The opposite wall of the carton, which at this point forms the carton top is next sealed by folding the connected flaps 30 and 32 down into coplanar relation with the opposite flap 2i and the flaps and 21 are folded down upon these inner flaps and adhered thereto.

The carton thus formed is a glued end carton resembling the usual carton of this type, with the exception of the fact that the connecting glue flap is somewhat differently arranged than usual. The curved fold lines do not ordinarily change the folding operation and the ends of the cans B engage the closure flap panels of the carton and are confined as well as if the curved fold lines were not present. In other words, the walls of the carton against which the ends of the cans engage remain substantially rectangular in form even though the center portion of the top wall panel is bulged upwardly.

When it is desired to lift the carton the flap 39 is folded inwardly in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and the fingers are inserted through the hole thus produced. An upward pull upon the carton top panels causes the carton to fold along the curved fold lines 34, 35, 36 and 31 as there is no internal support at these points. As a result the center portion of the wall panels curves to generally fit the curvature of the cans as illustrated in section in Figure 2, permitting the top panel to raise above the level of the cans B and providing additional space within the carton for the fingers.

Thus it will be seen that with my type of construction a hand hole may be employed at the top or" the carton and at the same time the carton may be designed to snugly fit the contents. Even after the package has been carried the contents will be properly confined within the carton due to the fact that the end walls against which the ends of the can engage maintain substantially their original rectangular shape, even though the top panel is drawn upwardly into spaced relation from the cans.

It will also be noted that the glue flap forms the reinforcing for the top panel and particularly adjacent the hand hole so that the carton stock will not split at this point.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my dome top carrier carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carrier carton including rectangularly arranged side and end walls, a bottom panel foldably connected thereto and a top panel foldably connected to the upper edges of said wall panels,-

a pair of arcuate fold lines on opposite sides of each of two parallel fold lines connecting said top panel to said side wall panels, said arcuate fold lines marging together at opposite corners of the carton and diverging apart between their ends, each of said parallel fold lines dividing the area between the fold line of each pair into two segmental areas.

2. A carrier carton in combination with a series of substantially cylindrical cans arranged in layers, each layer comprising a plurality of cans in side by side relation and the cans of each layer being positioned above the cans of the layer next below, the carton comprising rectangularly arranged side walls, a bottom Wall and a top panel foldably connected to said side walls, the fold lines connecting said top panel to two opposed side walls extending parallel to the axes of the cans, and arcuate fold lines on opposite sides of said two fold lines, said arcuate fold lines merging together at opposite ends of said two fold lines and arching apart between the ends thereof, said two fold lines each dividing the area between the arcuate fold lines of each pair and forming two segmental areas on opposite sides of these fold lines, said fold lines permitting the carton stock between the arcuate fold lines of each pair to flex inwardly to somewhat follow the contour of the cylindrical surface of the cans of the uppermost layer, thereby permitting the center portion of said top panel to dome upwardly.

3. A carrier carton in combination with a series of substantially cylindrical cans arranged in layers, each layer comprising a plurality of cans in side by side relation and the cans of each layer being positioned above the cans of the layer next below, the carton comprising rectangularly arranged side walls, a bottom wall and a top panel foldably connected to said side walls, the fold lines connecting said top panel to two opposed side walls extending parallel to the axes of the cans, and arcuate fold lines on opposite sides of said two fold lines, said arcuate fold lines merging together at opposite ends of said two fold lines and arching apart between the ends thereof, said fold lines permitting the carton stock between the arcuate fold lines of each pair to flex inwardly to somewhat follow the contour of the cylindrical surface of the cans of the uppermost layer, thereby permitting the center portion of said top panel to dome upwardly, said top panel having a hand hole therein intermediate the edges thereof.

4. A carrier carton in combination with a series of substantially cylindrical cans arranged in layers, each layer comprising a plurality of cans in side by side relation and the cans of each layer being positioned above the cans of the layer next below, the carton comprising rectangularly arranged side walls, a bottom wall and a top panel foldably connected to said side walls, the fold lines connecting said top panel to two opposed side walls extending parallel to the axes of the cans, and arcuate fold lines on opposite sides of said two fold lines, said arcuate fold iines merging together at opposite ends of said two fold lines and arching apart between the ends thereof, said fold lines permitting the carton stock between the arouate fold lines of each pair to flex inwardly to somewhat follow the contour of the cylindrical surface or the cans of the uppermost layer, thereby permitting the center portion of said top panel to dome upwardly, each layer of cans including an even number of cans, the top panel being provided with a hand hole therein so located that the fingers of the hand in extendi;

ing through the hole extend into the portion of the carton between two cans of the uppermost layer.

5. A carrier carton including a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall foldably connected thereto and a top panel foldably connecting the same, closure flaps on said side and bottom walls and said top panel, said top panel comprising a main panel and an overlapping portion secure together in marginal overlapping relation, said main panel having an elongated hand hole therein having one longituidnal edge parallel to and substantially flush with the free end of said overlapping portion, and arcuate fold lines on either side of the fold lines connecting said top panel to said side walls, said arcuate fold lines merging together at each end thereof and bowed away from one another intermediate their ends.

6. A carton formed from a blank including a series of panels connected along parallel fold lines, the panels including a first top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, and a second top panel, closure flaps hingedly secured to opposite sides of said side and bottom panels and to at least one of said top panels, said first top panel being substantially shorter than the bottom panel and having a free end overlapping said second top panel and secured thereto, and terminating along a line substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the fold line connecting said second top panel to said second side Wall panel, said second top panel having a hand hole therethrough in the portion thereof between the free end of the first top panel and the fold line connecting the second top panel to the second side wall panel with an edge of the hole adjacent to the free end of the first top panel.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 and in which both top panels include closing flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,941,568 McAleer Jan. 2, 1934 1,965,503 Lowman July 3, 1934 1,974,792 Berney Sept. 25, 1934 2,050,894 Paige Aug. 11, 1936 2,067,998 Williamson Jan. 19, 1937 

